Jonny Bairstow hit an unbeaten 86 off 48 balls, his highest Twenty20 international score, as England beat South Africa by five wickets in the series opener in Cape Town.
Coming to the crease at 27-2, chasing 180 to win, Bairstow hit nine fours and four sixes in his match winning knock.
He was supported in a 85-run partnership with all-rounder Ben Stokes, who made a 27-ball 37.
Earlier recorded his best T20 international bowling figures as he took 3-28, including the key wicket of Faf du Plessis who top-scored for the hosts with 58.
South Africa’s total of 179-6 was 21 more than the average first-innings T20 total at Newlands, and England were struggling at 34-3, but Bairstow’s brutality guided them to an excellent win with four balls to spare.
The second game of the three-match series takes place at Boland Park, Paarl on Sunday at 12.30pm GMT.
England return to Edgbaston in 2021 as the world champions take on Pakistan in a day/night ODI on Tuesday 13 July (provisional date).
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